We can visualise Jesus saying this about any of the Marys we have looked at. But also to so many others who had blessed Him as He journeyed throughout the area of Galilee. We can also imagine Jesus saying this to many of the church workers who serve Him today.

We can suppose there were many other people whose names we will never know, who were at the cross that day watching the death of the one they thought would be Saviour of the world. We will not get to know those people while we live this side of Heaven.

These named women, Mary, Joanna and Mary, and the others with them were the first evangelists, carrying the good news of the resurrection of Jesus to the disciples. Since then, many more women and men have been those who tell of that good news to others all across the world.

I remember my grandmother criticising certain church-goers she knew saying they were too heavenly minded to be of any earthly use! She, herself, was in church every week, but believed Sunday was the day for a nodding wink to The Lord, and the rest of the week looked after itself!

Jesus had taken Mary Magdalene out of the rut she had been living in. He had accepted her for who she was and changed her into what she was to be. The first evangelist! The first to talk to the risen Jesus, the first to tell others He was alive.

Mary saw the stone had been moved, and ventured to enter the tomb! Brave lady! As she explained to the angels that she was looking for the body of Jesus, the living Jesus spoke to her from behind asking her why she was crying. But she did not recognise Him.

Jesus taught them more about love and more about Father God than anyone else ever had. Jesus loved and accepted them just as they were. But He had also changed everyone who spent any time with Him. Jesus had already done so much for so many in changing their lives.

From our readings over this month we are convinced that Mary Magdalene was nearly always present. She was following Jesus at His death, as she had followed Him and served Him through His life since her deliverance from evil at His hand. We can not imagine what she was feeling.

Look back in this study and read it again, to remind yourself that Jesus was brought up in an ordinary family with brothers and sisters. He was different because He did not have the same father as His siblings. He was different because He was the Son of God.

The accounts of the reactions of the followers of Jesus up to His death and beyond vary in the different gospels. Here we have Mary Magdalene who we have already thought about. But who is this Mary the mother of Joseph? Remember Joseph was one of the brothers of Jesus!